Diablo 3 runs smoothly on the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. This raises the thought that the next logical step would lead to a mobile version. Is Diablo 3 now being released as a mobile RPG on iOS and Android? Blizzard provided us with an answer that suggests otherwise.
Why Mobile? At Blizzard, they have been considering the lucrative sector of mobile games for quite some time. So far, despite announcing that they would explore the mobile market, no new mobile game from Blizzard has been introduced yet. Hearthstone is the exception here.
We at Mein-MMO.de asked Senior Producer Pete Stilwell from Blizzard at gamescom how difficult it would be to port Diablo 3 from the handheld mode of the Switch to an Android and iPhone version.
This is what Blizzard says about a mobile version of Diablo 3
“I think it would be quite challenging. It was already a significant effort to get the game running on consoles. With the Switch, we didn’t have to do that anymore because all the groundwork had been laid with the Xbox and PlayStation. That was a big challenge a few years ago, and it would be a similar challenge to adapt the menu and controls [for mobile].”
What makes it so difficult? Stilwell explained the difficulty of a port with the complex controls of Diablo, which involve many buttons.
On a controller or keyboard, this is easier to accomplish. However, with the touch controls on the screen, much changes. The tactile feedback is not quite as responsive as with a controller.
Auto-play does not fit Diablo 3
A unique feature of Blizzard games is that they offer a fast, dynamic, and responsive experience. That would be a fundamental requirement, even for a port, says Pete Stilwell.
“We would have to put a lot of work into [this platform] to provide an answer to that. There are many mobile RPGs that usually offer a thumbstick in the corner and a few buttons. I find that, most of the time, the game concept tends to focus on helping you and taking away the play experience.”
He says that all these things would be possible, but with a significant catch:
At that point, it would no longer be Diablo 3. Bringing it to the Switch was a great thing because it is still Diablo 3. We observed players at gamescom and saw them smile because they realized: This is Diablo 3. They are engaging with the game they love.
Switch the better mobile solution
The Switch combines all of that. Players can go outside, enjoy Diablo 3 in small doses, and play it anywhere, even on a plane, without sacrificing good gameplay, thinks Pete Stilwell.
And what does that mean for the future? Stilwell told us that Blizzard always aims to make their games as accessible as possible. Decisions are made thoughtfully. With the rapid development of technologies and the increasing capabilities of smartphones, which are slowly becoming comparable to PCs, one must rethink now. The perspectives are changing.
And one idea is to build big first and then downscale. Doing it the other way around would result in a lot of loss in quality.
The Switch is a good example that downscaling can work well. Overall, they had an excellent experience with the Switch port of Diablo 3, which makes it interesting for other Blizzard games as well.
We followed up at the end: Pete, was the Nintendo Switch the last new platform for Diablo 3?
“At that time, yes. We have no plans for other platforms.”
The Switch version of Diablo 3, Eternal Collection, includes all features and content from all expansions and updates, as well as exclusive bonus items for the Nintendo Switch. Diablo 3 is set to be released in late 2018 for the Nintendo Switch.
